She hesitated, thought momentarily about stepping in and came to her senses.

"I grew up a Tigers fan, and my dad always rooted for the Tigers," she told USA TODAY Sports, "so I'm thinking, 'Hey, is it OK to go back to being a Tigers fan for a night?'

"I couldn't do it. I'm a Yankee fan. I'm a Yankee fan forever."

Besides, now that she's grown, if she ever donned a Tigers cap, there's a good chance big brother might never speak to her again.

Derek Jeter, Kalamazoo, Mich.'s favorite son, was honored Wednesday night by the Detroit Tigers for his brilliant 20-year career, and he will be immortalized as one of the greatest New York Yankees of all time.

But go ahead and sit down with Jeter. Talk to Sharlee and their parents. They'll tell you the same thing: It would be a shame for Derek to be remembered simply for his greatness as a ballplayer.

"He wants his legacy to be with his Turn 2 Foundation. It means everything to him," Sharlee says. "That's why this night is emotional. This is what he wants to be remembered for."

Jeter, whose foundation has raised $19 million to help steer students toward leadership roles and educational opportunities, stood proudly on the Comerica Park field during the tribute.

This wasn't a mere celebration of his career but also his life, surrounded by his immediate family and 28 high school students in the foundation's signature program — Jeter's Leaders.

"To have that many people from our hometown, and for the kids to be part of the ceremony is very, very special. It really hit home," says Sharlee, president of Turn 2.

"I thought it was very nice that they involved my family and the leadership program from Kalamazoo," Jeter said about the ceremony. "We appreciated it a lot. It was a class act by a class organization to include them.

"Our foundation means a lot to us, and for them to include them, it meant a lot to us."

Jeter's foundation donated 3,000 tickets to the game to Kalamazoo educators, business leaders and youth groups.

And, for the first time since Jeter signed with the Yankees in 1992, he was warmly cheered every time he came to bat, with a sellout crowd wanting to see him one final time before he retires at season's end.

"I've heard I'm a sellout or I should be playing for the Tigers," Jeter said. "It wasn't my choice. I was drafted by the Yankees. But the fans have always been respectful."

On this night, that respect turned into adoration.

PHOTO GALLERY: DEREK JETER'S FAREWELL TOUR

Sept. 28: Derek Jeter tips his cap to the crowd during a pregame ceremony for him at Fenway Park. (Photo: William Perlman, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com via USA TODAT)

Sept. 26: Derek Jeter's request for a day off against the Red Sox was the first of his 20-year career. "Never," he said. "Today. I couldn't play today. First time." (Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports)

Aug. 9: Derek Jeter walks back to first base after running out a sixth inning infield base hit against the Indians. It was Jeter's 3,431st career hit moving him past Honus Wagner and into sixth on the all-time hit list. (Photo: Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)

July 7: Derek Jeter reacts to cheers in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Cleveland is the site of Jeter's first major league home run. (Photo: David Richard, USA TODAY Sports)

June 15: Derek Jeter is presented with a gift from the Oakland Athletics hitting coach Chili Davis and manager Bob Melvin before the start of the game at O.co Coliseum. (Photo: Cary Edmondso, USA TODAY Sports)

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It brought back memories, Sharlee says, of when 3,000 people crammed into his high school gymnasium to celebrate Jeter after the Yankees won the 1996 World Series. Or when Kalamazoo Central High School renamed its baseball field in Jeter's honor in 2011.

"It was pretty awesome seeing my hometown honor him, and the excitement surrounding him," says Sharlee, who was a standout softball player at Kalamazoo Central five years after Jeter departed. "When they renamed the field, that was a really cool ceremony. That's something I'll always remember."

The love affair between Jeter and Kalamazoo started in the summer of 1996 over a few slices of pizza at Jeter's hotel room in Detroit. Jeter turned to his father, Charles, and told him that he wanted to start a foundation. He wanted to make an impact in the community in the manner of his hero, Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.

Jeter hates it when people call these ceremonies a farewell tour — "You say tour and it's like I'm just going around shaking hands and kissing babies." Yet, those hefty checks coming into the foundation are looking pretty, with the Tigers the latest team to provide a donation of at least $5,000.

These checks might help shape the future of Kalamazoo, the city's mayor, Bobby Hopewell, says, cementing a special bond between Jeter and the city.

"I think the (Turn 2 Foundation) will have an effect beyond our imagination," Hopewell says. "You're going to see future leaders of communities, police chiefs and philanthropists. You're going to see them be so successful. And I think one of the pivotal moments in their lives will have been being a part of Turn 2."

Jeter, who hasn't lived in Kalamazoo since signing with the Yankees, tries to get back as often as possible. But it's a different city than the one he grew up in. Crime has escalated. Unemployment has skyrocketed. He can't believe 30% of the residents are living below the poverty line.

"Kalamazoo has gone through a lot of change," says Sharlee, 35. "It's a lot different. But our mission has never changed. Being there giving kids that extra support and continuing the after-school programming, there will always be a need."

"I was born in Jersey, but I have always told people I am from Michigan," Jeter says. "Kalamazoo, that's where I grew up and it's very important to me."

Jeter remembers the days when his parents made Sharlee and himself sign contracts each year requiring them to meet certain social and academic criteria to play sports. The same is now true for each participant in Jeter's Leaders group. To receive a $3,000 college scholarship, they must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average, agree not to use drugs and alcohol, and be a role model.

If you slip up, you'll have to answer to Derek and Sharlee, or worse, Charles and Dot Jeter, who are on the board of directors.

"It allows us to do something as a family," Sharlee says. "It's really cool doing something that you believe in, to bring our own passion and energy into it, and love it. It's something we can connect on as a family.

"We really believe this is what Derek's legacy is. We're going to keep it going as long as we can."

It won't be easy. When you leave the game, the marketing and endorsement deals stop. Your name no longer appears in the daily box scores. Your face isn't shown on TV. Your charity no longer is nationally publicized.

Who knows, it might force Jeter to do a few things outside his personality to draw attention. Hang gliding, anyone?

"I don't think I'm going to flirt with death," Jeter says, laughing.

Who knows, he says, he could even return to school to Michigan and get a degree.

"You've seen that movie Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield?"Jeter says. "That'd be me right there."

Certainly, Jeter will now be more hands-on with Turn 2. But if he's looking for office space at the foundation's headquarters in New York, sorry, Sharlee says.

"He can do whatever he wants as long as he doesn't move into my office," Sharlee says. "I don't have space for him. I'll tell him, 'Derek, you're free to visit whenever you want, but don't get too comfortable. Things are going well.' "